IHS: High-concentration photovoltaics will become competitive with conventional PV

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 13:38 (Solarserver)

IHS Inc. (Englewood, Colorado, U.S.) has issued a new report which finds that efficiency gains and lower costs will allow high concentrating photovoltaics (HCPV) to compete with conventional PV solutions in coming years. “CPV on the edge of breakthrough” predicts market growth in North America, South America and the Middle East and Africa (MENA) region. Read more

Platinum files for insolvency as inverter consolidation continues

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 12:50 (PV-Tech)

German inverter manufacturer Platinum has filed for insolvency, in a further sign of consolidation in the market. Read more

European Photovoltaic Industry Association elects new Board of Directors; Oliver Schäfer becomes new EPIA President

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 9:37 (Solarserver)

Gathered on March 7th, 2014 in Brussels for their Annual General Meeting, Members of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) elected a new Board of Directors. Oliver Schäfer, SunPower Corporation, has been elected as the new EPIA President. Three Vice-Presidents and four Directors were also elected. Read more

German government sues to stop investigation into feed-in tariff surcharge exemption

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 8:30 (Solarserver)

Germany's federal government has filed suit under the General Court of the European Union against the European Commission's (EC) investigation into whether or not its feed-in tariff surcharge exemption for energy-intensive industries is compatible with state aid rules. Germany's Ministry of Economy and Energy (BMWi) stresses that it still seeks to enter into a settlement with the EC. The ministry states that it does not believe that the feed-in tariff or its exemption for energy-intensive industries constitutes state aid. Read more

GCL-Poly to supply 9.3 GW of silicon wafers, polysilicon to four Chinese solar PV makers

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 20:33 (Solarserver)

GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Co. Ltd. (Hong Kong) has signed long-term contracts to supply a total of 9.3 GW of silicon wafers and polysilicon to four Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers. The company will supply high-efficiency wafers and polysilicon to JinkoSolar (Shanghai), GD Solar (Yixing, China), Tongwei Solar (Chengdu, China) and Hareon Solar (Jiangyin, China) from 2014-2016. Read more

Renewables insurance firm offers political risk policy

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 18:00 (PV-Tech)

Renewables insurer GCube is to offer political risk insurance policies in a move that could help solar’s expansion in emerging markets and reduce costs. Read more

GCL-Poly secures major new polysilicon & wafer contracts

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 17:34 (PV-Tech)

Major China-based polysilicon and solar wafer producer, GCL-Poly has secured ‘near-term’ supply contracts with Jinko Solar, GD Solar, Tongwei Solar, and Hareon Solar. Read more

Hill & Smith Solar supplies over 115MW of ground-mount structures to Europe

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 16:55 (Solarpowerportal)

Wolverhampton-based solar mounting manufacturer Hill & Smith Solar has revealed that is supplied more than 115MW of ground-mount structures across Europe. Read more

Study reveals solar’s ‘energy payback’ time is 0.55 to 1.3 years

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 16:29 (Solarpowerportal)

The Bavarian Institute of Applied Environmental Research and Technology (bifa) environmental institute in Germany has published an eco-efficiency analysis of solar PV which reveals that the energy payback time for the technology ranges from 0.55 to 1.3 years. Read more

Canadian Solar, Chaori Cast Cloud On Solar Shares

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 16:06 (Renewable Energy World)

After a massive rally over the last year, shares of solar panel makers could be set for a few months of winter following a disappointing earnings announcement from superstar Canadian Solar (Nasdaq: CSIQ) and a debt default from second-tier player Chaori Solar (Shenzhen: 002506). Such a correction was almost inevitable after last year’s huge rally a Read more

ROTH Capital expects strong PV module shipment growth of JA Solar through 2015

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 15:56 (PV-Tech)

JA Solar’s PV module shipments are projected to grow at a strong 44% CAGR through 2015, according to ROTH Capital equity analyst, Philip Shen. Read more

Enel grows solar PV portfolio Greece, Romania and Italy in 2013

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 14:17 (Solarserver)

Enel Green Power SA (Rome) reported a net gain of 107 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2013 in its annual results. This includes the commissioning of 48 MW of PV plants in Greece, 36 MW of PV plants in Romania and 21 MW in Italy. During 2013, Enel invested EUR 54 million (USD 75 million) in constructing PV plants in Romania and EUR 44 million (USD 61 million) in Italy. Read more

Upsolar opens Singapore and Turkey offices to tap emerging markets

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 13:35 (PV-Tech)

International module manufacturer, Upsolar, has announced the establishment of two new offices in Istanbul and Singapore. Read more

Trina Solar sells first Chinese PV power plant

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 13:14 (PV-Tech)

Having only gained approval to build a 50MW PV power plant in Wuwei, Gansu province, China in January, 2014 Trina Solar said that Huadian Fuxin Energy Corporation has acquired the project, the first the module manufacturer has sold in China. Read more

Canadian Solar hits go on new Ontario fab

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 13:09 (PV-Tech)

PV producer Canadian Solar has officially opened the doors of a new module factory in London, Ontario. Read more

Indosolar looks to restructure debt as profits feel the pinch

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 12:33 (PV-Tech)

Indian PV manufacturer Indosolar has asked to have its debt restructured because it says low equipment prices mean it is unable to make a profit. Read more

Saint Gobain pulls out of German solar business

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 11:59 (PV-Tech)

The German subsidiary of building materials distributor Saint Gobain has announced it is withdrawing from the PV sector, pointing the finger of blame at Germany’s unstable solar policy. Read more

SolarBridge riding microinverter wave with US$42 million new funding round

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 11:43 (PV-Tech)

US-based microinverter firm, SolarBridge Technologies, has secured US$42 million in a new funding round led by Constellation Technology Ventures. Read more

Samsung, Canadian Solar open solar PV module factory in Ontario

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 9:39 (Solarserver)

Samsung Renewable Energy Inc. (Mississauga, Canada) has officially opened a new solar photovoltaic (PV) module and medium voltage power station factory in the Canadian province of Ontario. The factory in London, Ontario began operations in November 2013 and produces PV modules under the Canadian Solar Inc. (Guelph, Canada) brand. The factory will produce modules for Samsung's Ontario PV projects, including two 100 MW PV projects. Read more

India solar: MNRE to support 17,500 solar water pumps, 68,000 small PV systems, PV lighting systems

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 9:39 (Solarserver)

India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has approved INR 299 crore (USD 48 million) to subsidize the installation of 17,500 solar water pumps in the nation to support irrigation for agriculture. The total project cost is estimated at INR 997 crore (USD 160 million), and is limited to states that are willing to contribute at least 15% of project costs. Read more

Hawaii schools to install 100 MW of solar PV on microgrids

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 8:41 (Solarserver)

The Department of Education in the U.S. state of Hawaii has partnered with Chevron Energy Solutions (San Francisco, California, U.S.) to launch a five-year sustainability program. This will include the installation of roughly 100 MW of solar photovoltaics (PV) and 25 MW of wind to power microgrids at schools. The multifaceted program will also feature “aggressive” energy efficiency measures and demand response. DOE does not expect the program to be run into utility Hawaiian Electric Companies' (HECO, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.) limits on PV generation due to the use of microgrids. Read more

Manz stays committed to PV equipment market, despite fall in 2013 solar revenues

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 8:22 (Solarserver)

Manz AG (Reutlingen, Germany) has released preliminary figures for 2013, reporting a 45% increase in revenues to a record EUR 266 million (USD 370 million). The company also returned to profitability with a 1.2% operating margin. However, revenues in the company's Solar division fell 37% to only EUR 10.4 million (USD 14 million), despite being the division with the highest revenues in previous years. Manz says that it will continue its development activities in solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment, stating that it expects this market to recover. Read more

India Suspends Wind Forecasting Fines Due to Data Inaccuracy

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 12:41 (Renewable Energy World)

An Indian rule requiring wind farms to predict output or face fines has been temporarily suspended as the regulator reconsiders the best way to ensure stability of the grid, which suffered the world’s biggest outage in 2012. Read more

Mapping the World One Small Hydropower Plant at a Time

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 15:11 (Renewable Energy World)

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Centre on Small Hydro Power (ICSHP) announced last month that they have launched a new web-based knowledge-sharing portal on small hydropower. The purpose of the portal is to hopefully make it easier for developers, policymakers and other interested stakeholders to access data about the vast potential of small hydropower. Read more

Up All Night: US Senate To Address Climate Change Options

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 21:39 (Renewable Energy World)

More than two dozen legislators are pulling an all-nighter tonight (Monday March 10) on the Senate floor to talk about climate change and what actions must be taken. Read more

Last Week To Submit an Abstract for Renewable Energy World North America! Don't Miss Your Opportunity to Speak at Our Conference

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 20:01 (Renewable Energy World)

http://s36.a2zinc.net/clients/pennwell/REWNA2014/Public/Content.aspx?ID=40268 Read more

PJM Grid Operators: We Can Handle 30 Percent Renewable Energy Integration, And Here's How

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 17:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The PJM Interconnection system believes it can handle up to 30 percent of its energy from wind and solar without "any significant reliability issues," assuming transmission upgrades and additional regulation reserves — and at the same time reducing costs and reliance on its costlier conventional generation fleet. Read more

Yingli Green to supply modules to 27.5MW Israel project

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 14:13 (PV-Tech)

Chinese manufacturer Yingli Green Energy has signed an agreement to supply PV modules to an unnamed 27.5MW solar power station in Israel which has received conditional feed-in tariff (FiT) approval from Israeli authorities. Read more

Google Reaps Tax Breaks in $1.4 Billion Renewable Energy Bet

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 13:55 (Renewable Energy World)

On a Northern California farm where silage for animal feed once grew, Google Inc. is generating power from more than 100,000 solar panels to heat nearby homes — and double down on an area of energy many investors shun. Read more

Predicting PV Plant Power Fluctuations and Optimising Energy Storage

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 13:53 (Renewable Energy World)

The ability to accurately predict and prevent power fluctuations is of considerable importance to Solar PV (photovoltaic) plant operators in terms of sustaining profitability, estimating revenue returns and ensuring customer quality of service. Variations in solar irradiance can cause rapid fluctuations in power generation, reducing the quality and reliability of the power generated by large grid?connected PV plants. Read more

Energy Efficiency Ain't Got No Respect

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 13:08 (Renewable Energy World)

While politicians and planners focus on energy generation and fuels, it is energy efficiency that should be the first winner. As I tell my students as well as members of Congress — it is ALWAYS less expensive to save energy than generate any type of energy. Read more

Green Rhino Energy: PV power can help solve South Africa’s grid failures

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 9:56 (PV-Tech)

PV technology can help stablise the country’s often inconsistent electricity grid, according to Joachim Baumgaertner, managing director of PV developer Green Rhino Energy. Read more

UK energy markets ‘need reform’ to unblock path for storage

Monday, 3.10.2014 - 7:07 (Solarpowerportal)

It will only be possible to unlock the potential of energy storage in the UK if the regulation of energy markets is reconfigured to reward its value, a top academic at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers has said. Read more